Methods and apparatus for bandwidth recovery in a network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a switched content delivery network, a method of operating said network comprising:
- receiving a request for content from at least one of a plurality of devices associated with said network;
determining a bandwidth deficiency, said bandwidth deficiency affecting an ability of said network to service said request; and
performing a bandwidth recovery process, said bandwidth recovery process being selected and performed such that an amount of bandwidth reclaimed is substantially proportional to a value of said bandwidth deficiency, said selection and performance of said bandwidth recovery process comprising;
if a bandwidth reclamation process may be performed, performing said reclamation process;
if said bandwidth reclamation process cannot be performed, performing an overflow process; and
if said overflow process cannot be preformed, performing a process for terminating one or more content streams without regard to a current use thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for recovery and/or utilization of bandwidth within a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a switched architecture (e.g., broadcast switched) content-delivery network such as a cable television network. Reclamation, overflow, and/or triage logical processes are selectively applied in order to more efficiently manage bandwidth utilization within the network while maintaining user experience, and optionally achieve one or more business and/or operational goals.
78 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a switched content delivery network, a method of operating said network comprising:
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receiving a request for content from at least one of a plurality of devices associated with said network; determining a bandwidth deficiency, said bandwidth deficiency affecting an ability of said network to service said request; and performing a bandwidth recovery process, said bandwidth recovery process being selected and performed such that an amount of bandwidth reclaimed is substantially proportional to a value of said bandwidth deficiency, said selection and performance of said bandwidth recovery process comprising; if a bandwidth reclamation process may be performed, performing said reclamation process; if said bandwidth reclamation process cannot be performed, performing an overflow process; and if said overflow process cannot be preformed, performing a process for terminating one or more content streams without regard to a current use thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A network server comprising:
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an interface configured to receive a request for content from at least one of a plurality of devices in said network; a processor; a storage device operatively coupled to said processor; and at least one computer program disposed on said storage device, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed; determine a bandwidth deficiency affecting an ability of said apparatus to provide said requested content to said at least one of said plurality of devices; and based at least in part on said determination, selecting at least one of a plurality of bandwidth recovery processes, each of said processes comprising a different level of impact on said ability of said apparatus to provide said requested content to said at least one of said plurality of devices; wherein said selecting of said at least one of said plurality of said bandwidth recovery processes comprises selection thereof in an escalating level of impact on said provided services based at least in part on a severity of said bandwidth deficiency determined by said act determination of a bandwidth deficiency. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of managing bandwidth in a switched digital content distribution network, comprising:
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receiving a request for content from a first one of a plurality of user devices in said network; identifying a bandwidth deficiency; identifying at least one stream for which a last user activity taken with respect thereto was more than a predetermined time prior to said evaluation; determining a service level for said at least one stream; based at least in part on said service level and said last user activity, requesting a temporary reclamation of at least a portion of bandwidth allocated to said at least one stream; if said temporary reclamation of at least said portion of said bandwidth allocated to said at least one stream is granted, providing said requested content to said first user device; and immediately reclaiming said additional available bandwidth from said first user device after a predetermined time from a last user activity taken with respect to said content at said first user device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of managing bandwidth in a switched digital network, comprising:
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receiving a request for content from a first one of a plurality of user devices in said network; determining that an available bandwidth is not sufficient to service said request; requesting temporary access to additional available bandwidth; if said temporary access to said additional available bandwidth is granted, providing said requested content to said first user device; and immediately reclaiming said additional available bandwidth from said first user device after a predetermined time from a last user activity taken with respect to said content at said first user device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of managing bandwidth in a switched digital network, comprising:
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determining a condition of insufficient bandwidth to accommodate current demands on a network; implementing at least one process configured to provide sufficient bandwidth with minimal affect on a level of service currently provided to users in said network by taking into account current use of one or more streams distributed on said bandwidth; and if said at least one process cannot provide sufficient bandwidth with said minimal affect on said level of service, determining at least one of said one or more streams distributed on said bandwidth to teardown without regard to said current use thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification